We all have to live with some dust, even in the workplace. It is everywhere, and no matter how often we clean, it keeps returning. It appears in fine layers on all surfaces and can leave you feeling exhausted while trying to keep it away. But however daunting the task may be, dust should not be ignored.
The buildup of dust can have numerous harmful effects on your staff’s health, and these effects can worsen the longer the exposure lasts. This is especially important to consider if you are responsible for the maintenance of a commercial space and the health of its occupants.
What is dust?
Dust is a very common air pollutant, and it can be generated by many different sources and activities. The contents of dust can include pollen, dead skin cells, plant particles, and even microscopic organisms.
You are probably used to seeing fine layers of dust particles on office furniture, but you might be surprised to learn that not all dust can be so easily seen. The buildup we notice on surfaces is mostly larger dust particles that fall from the air, but where there are larger dust particles, there will also be smaller ones. These smaller dust particles are invisible to the human eye and are more likely than larger particles to penetrate deep into the lungs when inhaled.
How does dust affect your health?
Our lungs thankfully possess a natural defence mechanism to help protect them from most dust particles, but doctors agree that breathing in certain fine particles can still be harmful to human health. In a city like Vancouver, the dust you encounter is likely rich in combustion particles from vehicle emissions, and therefore even more damaging. Many common health problems can be attributed to or exacerbated by overexposure to dust.
These health problems can include the following:
- coughing
- sneezing
- irritation of the eyes
- asthma attacks
- hay fever
If you find your business struggling with some of these symptoms, dust may be to blame.
How can you protect your office employees from dust?
To avoid overexposure to dust, it is important to regularly allocate time towards office cleaning. As a business owner, you are responsible for the health and well-being of your staff. Here are some tips you can use to help keep the dust away:
- Be consistent and thorough. Don’t ignore any of the surfaces where dust could be hiding.
- Use wet rags. Dry rags will not capture dust as well as wet ones and will tend to instead send more dust particles into the air.
- Use vacuums. Where possible, opt for using a vacuum instead of a broom. Brooms, just like dry rags, can send more dust into the air to be inhaled.
Is managing dust becoming too challenging for your staff or current office cleaners? Make cleaning easy by hiring Clean Green Solutions!